How to know when onions are ready to harvest. Knowing when onions are ready to pluck may seem like a guessing game with the bulb concealed beneath the earth, but the plant gives signals on when to harvest the vegetables.
How to know when onions are ready to harvest
Onions are forgiving since they can be harvested early for green onions or allowed to mature into more giant bulb onions.
An onion takes three to four months to attain total growth after planting, with maturity occurring in early to mid-summer.
You can tell when to dig up the pungent veggies by keeping an eye on the calendar and examining the plants.
The right time for onion harvesting
As you approach the three-month mark, keep an eye on the visible tops of the onions for changes in growth and look.
The modifications signal that the veggies are getting close to being ready to eat.
Suitable condition of onion before harvesting
To determine the size of the veggies, pull up one onion when it appears to be ripe. Depending on the type and expected mature size, look for 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Allow all of the onions to grow longer if the onion isn’t massive enough.
Check for different indicators of maturity if your test onion fulfills the size requirements. To check for a soft area on the top of the plant, gently squeeze it approximately 2 to 3 inches above the bulb.
Even if the tips appear to be expanding, this mushy region indicates that the bulb is finished developing. Pull any onions with a mushy spot on the top. Other onions should be allowed to mature before being harvested.
Green onion tops should be harvested when they reach a height of 6 inches. The green tips get stronger the longer you wait to harvest them.
Any bulbs that have bolted or developed flower stalks should be plucked and consumed as soon as possible; they are not suitable for storage.
When the onion tops gradually fall over and brown, it’s time to harvest the bulb onions. Depending on the cultivar, this occurs 100 to 120 days after planting.
When conditions may not be too hot, early in the morning is the best time to gather onions.
When not to harvest
If you don’t feel the quiet place on the plants, keep an eye out for the tops of the onions to become weak and droop over.
It is advised that you check for bent tops on 80 to 90 percent of the crop to signal that it is ready to harvest. For best maturity, begin to expand the onions lasting up to two weeks after the tops start to die.
If a significant rain is a forecast, pull the onions before the two-week mark since the rain can harm mature onions.
Conclusion
Onions are a common cool-season vegetable that may be grown from seed, transplants, or sets. Onions are a simple to produce and maintain crop that may supply a kitchen staple throughout the fall and winter if harvested properly.
The success of your onion harvest will be determined by how well you plant and care for your onions during the growing season.
As early as the garden can be worked, plant onions. Bulb growth is aided by rich soil, regular rainfall, and moderate temperatures. Hills are great for onions that will be used for green onions, but not for onions that will be used for bulbs.
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